Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Limavady is a market town, lying on the River Roe in County Londonderry. The town was developed within the townland of Rathbrady Beg (alias Newton Limavady). It saw massive expansion in the 20th century and now covers parts of the townlands of Coolessan, Rathbrady More, Enagh, Bovally and Carran. It is within the civil parish of Drumachose. Prior to the Plantation, the predominant family of the area was O'Cahans. At O'Cahan's Rock, according to local myth, a dog belonging to one of the O'Cahan Chiefs jumped the River Roe to get help from nearby clans after a surprise enemy attack. This gave Limavady its name, Limavady being the anglicised version of Leim an Mhadaidh (leap of the dog). In 1610, during the Plantation, Sir Thomas Phillips was granted 13,100 acres of land at Limavady which included an O’Cahan castle. He commenced the building of the 'Newtown of Limavady' which was laid out in a cruciform road pattern. Limavady had an early association with the linen and Irish whiskey industries. The Limavady Distillery was founded in 1750 on the banks of the River Roe. It closed in 1915. Limavady Town Hall was completed in 1872. The town is within the council area of Causeway Coast and Glens.

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Londonderry
Lat, Long: 55.052491,-6.950705
Grid Reference: C 6711 2329
Townland: Newtown Limavady Alias Rathbrady Beg TD
Civil Parish: Drumachose CP
Council Area: Causeway Coast and Glens CA
Police Area: Northern Ireland PA
Devolved Legislature:  Northern Ireland Assembly

GBPN ID: 322066
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Limavady,_Londonderry_322066

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